Norovirus spread accelerating in run up to Christmas

Another 120,000 people have caught the norovirus winter vomiting bug over the
last week, according to latest figures from the Health Protection Agency.

Norovirus: by the New Year, more than a million could have been infected.Photo: Rex Features

By Stephen Adams, Medical Correspondent

12:55PM GMT 18 Dec 2012

Already the worst start to the season for norovirus on record, the new figures suggest the outbreak is accelerating.

Two weeks ago the number of reports confirmed by laboratory analysis was 64 per cent higher than at the same stage in 2011. Now, the number of confirmed reports is 83 per cent higher.

An HPA spokesman said: “In this season to date there have been 3,046 confirmed laboratory reports of norovirus. This is 83 per cent higher than the same period in the last season when there were 1,669 cases reported.”

For every confirmed case, HPA statisticians believe that 288 go unreported. On that basis, some 877,000 people are now thought to have experienced the bug, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea, so far this season.

Experts are warning that the majority of cases usually come from January to March, suggesting the worse is yet to come.

John Harris, from the HOA, said: “The number of laboratory confirmed cases has risen again, following the drop in the number we reported last week. This is typical of the norovirus season where the number of laboratory reports fluctuates between October and April with the bulk of cases usually occurring between January and March.

“Norovirus is very contagious so we would urge anyone who thinks they may be unwell with norovirus to stay at home and stay away from hospitals and care homes.

“The infection is short-lived although it is very unpleasant while you are unwell. Most people will not need to go to see their doctor and will recover in a couple of days. It is important to take plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.”